In recent reports C. acnes has been frequently detected in prostate tissue from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. It was shown that C. acnes was significantly more common in prostate tissue samples obtained from men with prostate cancer compared to prostate tissue with no histological evidence of the disease. This led to the hypothesis that C. acnes is a contributing factor in infection-induced prostate cancer.

Implant-associated infections (IAIs) are one of the major reasons for implant failure after orthopedic surgery and result in high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis and management of IAIs are challenging. Besides staphylococci other skin residents such as slow-growing Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria (SGAB) have also been found in IAIs. They may be underestimated since they are slow-growing and detection is hindered due to overgrowth of faster growing bacteria in polymicrobial infections. The assignment of SGAB as etiological agents of IAIs is thus challenging.